Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí assigned to each Garda division in the State and the population of each division as determined in the 2006 Census. [31597/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The personnel strength of each Garda Division as at 31 October 2007, the latest date for which figures are readily available is set out in the following table:

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that Small Area Population Statistics (SAPS) for Garda Divisions, based on the 2006 census, are being developed by staff of the Central Statistics Office in consultation with An Garda Síochána at present.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is aware that headline crime increased by 6% in the Carlow Kildare division in the first three quarters of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006, whilst nationally there was no change and given this increase whether he will increase garda numbers in the division. [31598/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Current Policing Plans are designed, inter alia, to address the prevention of anti-social and public order offences, the prevention of crime including crimes against persons and property and the maintenance of an environment conducive to the improvement of quality of life of the residents. This strategy is, and will continue to be, central to the delivery of a policing service to the area in question. The Carlow/Kildare Divisional Policing Plan for 2008 currently being prepared will contain measures to prevent and detect crime.

Over the lifetime of this and the last Government the strength of An Garda Síochána has been significantly increased. The current Programme for Government re-affirms the commitment to a Garda strength of 15,000, with a target date of 2010, and commits us to increasing the strength of the Force further to 16,000 by 2012.

The personnel strength of the Carlow/Kildare Division at the end of the third quarter of 2007 was 398 compared to a personnel strength of 362 at the end of the third quarter of 2006. This represents an increase of 10%.

It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel taking all aspects of policing into account. Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public. The situation will be kept under review by the Commissioner and when additional personnel next become available the needs of the Carlow/Kildare Division will be fully considered by him within the overall context of the needs of Garda Districts/Divisions throughout the country.